The Haryana Government has decided to name the Skill Development University in Faridabad after Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar, set up a Safai Karamchari Ayog, and offered a slew of incentives and benefits to the people belonging to the Scheduled Castes, including students, in the state.

These and many other announcements were made by the Chief Minister, Manohar Lal, while addressing a huge gathering at the state-level celebrations held in Yamunanagar to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar on Thursday.

After paying glorious tributes to the architect of India’s Constitution, he said that the backlog in government jobs for posts of reserved categories would be filled soon. Orders would be issued shortly to advertise the posts lying vacant in various departments.

While announcing the decision to set up Safai Karamchari Ayog, Manohar Lal, said that two pairs of uniform and one pair of shoes would be given to the safai karamcharis working in the villages on the pattern of those working in towns.

The Chief Minister said that Bus Stand Chowk, Jagadhari and the centrally sponsored scheme of post-matric scholarship meant for SC students would also be named after Dr Ambedkar. The tuition fee of SC girl students at the graduation level would be waived. Pucca streets will be constructed within one year in those 843 villages where the SC population is more than 40 per cent.

The Chief Minister announced the decision to double the school dress allowance of SC students from Class 1 to V from Rs 400 to Rs 800 per student per annum. The rate of dress allowance from Class VI to X would also be increased to Rs 1,000 per student per annum.

The state government has decided to give LPG gas connection to every household in the statewithin one year. Presently, there are about one lakh families in the state which do not have gas connection. The government will also provide up to Rs 1-crore loan to youth without guarantee for setting up small industries. Training would be imparted to the SC youth for this purpose. In addition, the grant for marriage for girls of widows would be increased from Rs 41,000 to Rs 51,000.

Paying rich tributes to Dr Ambedkar, the Chief Minister said that he would always be remembered for the great work he did for the upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden. The father of Indian Constitution, Dr Ambedkar was a messiah of the downtrodden. It was the former Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who made efforts to ensure that Baba Saheb was conferred Barat Ratna.

Manohar Lal said that the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar was also beingobserved all over the world, including the UNO. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched “Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday” from “Mahu”, the birthplace of Dr. Ambedkar which would ensure development of rural areas in the country. This program will be carried out in the whole nation.

Later, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the first floor of Ambadkar Bhawan. He also announced a grant of Rs 21 lakh for its construction.